Democratic lawmakers are aiming to make the issue of immigration an official element of the party's 2016 platform.

Immigration reform activist were recently thrilled to learn an early draft of the party's platform finds democratic candidates taking a liberal-minded stance on the issue.

That's is sharp contrast to Republicans, who led by presumptive GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump have taken an anti-immigration stance that includes Trump vowing to deport millions of undocumented immigrants and building a wall along the Mexican border to further to keep them out.

Hispanic Vote key to 2016 Election

With Hispanics expected to turn out at the ballot box in record numbers come November's general election, democrats deemed the issue of immigration "a defining aspect of the American character and history."

The platform also calls for a path to citizenship "for law-abiding families who are here," expressing support for President Obama's executive actions on immigration and the end of immigration raids against children and families.

"The platform recognizes the pressing need and the status of the more than 11 million undocumented migrants living and raising their families in the Unites States," said Maureen Meyer, director of the Washington Office on Latin America's Mexico Program. "It provides assurances that the raids that have been threatening recently arrived Central American families and which have caused fear in the immigrant community will be stopped."

Trump not Popular Among Latinos

Democrats also marked the occasion to further criticize Trump, who has also called for a ban on Muslims traveling to the U.S

"Finally, Democrats will not stand for the divisive and derogatory language of Donald Trump," the platform maintains. "His offensive comments about immigrants and other communities have no place in our society. This kind of rhetoric must be rejected."

The updated, 2016 platform document items are in sharp contrast to those laid out by Democrats as part of their 2012 manifesto. Back then, party leaders also touted the need for comprehensive immigration reform, but added of undocumented immigrants the need to "get right with the law, learn English, and pay taxes in order to get on a path to earn citizenship."

Latino turnout is widely perceived as crucial in the presidential election as well as in down-ballot races and in key swing states like Colorado, Florida and Nevada.

A recent Washington Post/ ABC News poll found that nearly nine in 10, or 89 percent, of all Hispanics have a negative image of Trump largely based on his views around immigration.

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